Tag: Science fiction | Page 2

illustration of a technological eye, close up, future concept, generative ai

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Gary Varner
Date
October 21, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture

Tagged
AI, Artificial Intelligence, Arts and Culture, Consciousness, film, horror, Killer robots, megan, Movies and TV, Robots, Science fiction}

Megan Review, Part 1

_{An AI doll that does more than just play.} _{Gary Varner
October 21, 2023

6

Arts & Culture}

Since it’s nearing Halloween, I figured now would be a good time to review some Sci-Fi movies that dabble in the horror genre. Megan came out in 2022 and has been referred to as Chucky for Zoomers. The premise is the same as the horror movie, Child’s Play, from 1988: a child gets a doll. Doll turns psychotic and kills people. It’s pretty straightforward. However, Megan differs by adding a technological twist, calling back to the creepy Furbies, which came out in 1998. Really, those awful toys should’ve had a horror movie of their own. There are many a tale of the mechanical monsters waking up under the bed in the dead of night six months after the poor child Read More ›

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Gary Varner
Date
October 14, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture

Tagged
Books, dune, Movies and TV, planets, Science fiction, space}

Dune Review, Part 3

_{Exiled into the desert and taken to the Fremen.} _{Gary Varner
October 14, 2023

6

Arts & Culture}

The cast is strong, and the visuals are impressive, and I’m excited to see how they wrap everything up in the sequel. Read More ›

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Gary Varner
Date
October 7, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture

Tagged
Arts and Culture, Books, dune, Frank Herbert, Movies and TV, Science fiction}

Dune Review, Part 2

_{A long-expected betrayal} _{Gary Varner
October 7, 2023

7

Arts & Culture}

The movie does a better job than the book in covering several of the intricate details involved. Read More ›

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Gary Varner
Date
September 30, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture

Tagged
Arts and Culture, dune, Movies and TV, religion, Science fiction}

Dune Review, Part One

_{Despite the cynical ways of the Bene Gesserit sect, a deeper providence guides the story in Dune.} _{Gary Varner
September 30, 2023

6

Arts & Culture}

Despite the cynical ways of the Bene Gesserit sect, a deeper providence guides the story in Dune. Read More ›

Closeup of woman's hand writing on paper over wooden table

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Gary Varner
Date
September 23, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture

Tagged
aliens, Extraterrestrial life, Language, Movies and TV, science, Science fiction, Signs, Time}

Arrival Review, Part 3

_{Investigating the meaning of time and language} _{Gary Varner
September 23, 2023

6

Arts & Culture}

Arrival is a movie worth watching if you’re willing to not think about it too hard. Read More ›

The Flow of Time: A Close-Up Portrait of an Incomplete Humanoid Android Covered in White Porcelain Skin, Blue Eyes, and Glowing Internal Parts.

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Gary Varner
Date
August 12, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture

Tagged
AI, Dystopian, Gary Varner, HBO, Max, Movies and TV, Robots, Sci Fi, Science fiction, Westworld}

Westworld Episode 9 Review

_{Bernard learns the truth} _{Gary Varner
August 12, 2023

6

Arts & Culture}

Episode nine is fast paced, but if you’re paying attention, the grand twist is obvious, and I found it a little irritating. In the next review, we’ll discuss the conclusion of Westworld. Read More ›

Cyber security, AI Mind, Network Management, Modern Data Center, Cloud Networking, AI Generated Art

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News
Date
August 8, 2023

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence

Tagged
Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness, Dystopian, Robert J. Marks, Science fiction, The Atlantic, Yuval Noah Harari}

Evaluating Yuval Harari’s Dystopian Views on AI

_{Does AI spell the doom of democracy?} _{News
August 8, 2023

1

Artificial Intelligence}

Will infotech and biotech erode human agency, subvert human desires, and render free-market economics obsolete? At first glance, there looks to be a wide gap between the future of AI and the destruction of democracy. Some futurists claim to have jumped that chasm. In a cheery little column published by The Atlantic, Yuval Noah Harari posits AI will ultimately destroy democracy and favor Digital Dictatorships. He notes that liberal democracies have been anomalies and that history tends to favor authoritarian governance. What is his argument and does it hold water? We’ve been sharing a number of lectures from past COSM conferences and other videos. This video is just one of many you can find at the Bradley Center’s YouTube page. There Read More ›

Female robot face, Artificial intelligence concept. Generative AI

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Gary Varner
Date
July 29, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture

Tagged
AI, Artificial Intelligence, Arts and Culture, Gary Varner, Science fiction, Westworld}

Westworld: Episode 7 Review

_{In which Theresa makes a terrible discovery} _{Gary Varner
July 29, 2023

6

Arts & Culture}

This episode begins with Bernard having a flashback of his son. It’s a very sad scene that turns out to be a dream sequence. After that, we follow Theresa to Hale’s apartment. Read More ›

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Peter Biles
Date
July 28, 2023

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality

Tagged
AI, Alien, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Church, Consciousness, Extraterrestrials (ET), J.P. Moreland, Robert J. Marks, Science fiction, UAPs/UFOs, UFOs, William Lane Craig}

Of AI and Aliens: Two Philosophers Give Their Thoughts

_{These sound minds are great resources to draw from in the chaos of our times} _{Peter Biles
July 28, 2023

3

Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality}

Sean McDowell of Biola University asked philosophers William Lane Craig and J.P. Moreland what they thought of extraterrestrial life and its implications. Read More ›

Milky way in Utah over the Green River from Swasey's Beach.

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Gary Varner
Date
July 22, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture

Tagged
AI, Artificial Intelligence, Arts and Culture, Consciousness, Movies and TV, Robots, Science fiction}

Westworld: Episode 6 Review

_{Maeve and the audience get some answers} _{Gary Varner
July 22, 2023

7

Arts & Culture}

In short, because the writers aren’t exactly sure how to explain the evolution of robot sentience, the viewers get mixed messages. Read More ›

close up portrait photo of humanoid android covered in shiny white grey and black metallic skin blue eyes glowing internal parts westworld style Volumetric Lighting ultrawide shot sharp

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Gary Varner
Date
July 15, 2023

Categorized
Science Fiction

Tagged
AI, Arts and Culture, Gary Varner, Robots, Science fiction, Westworld}

Westworld: Episode 5 Review

_{Mediocre writing made bearable by talented actors} _{Gary Varner
July 15, 2023

6

Science Fiction}

Episode Five opens with Ford talking to one of the parks older droid’s, something he has grown fond of doing over the years. He tells a story of an old Grey Hound he and his brother once had, and explains that one time, they let the dog off the leash. The dog was used to chasing a fake rabbit around the track, so when it saw a cat, it immediately went after it. But after the dog had caught the cat and killed it, he didn’t know what to do. This story obviously implies that Dr. Ford knows the droids are becoming conscious, and it seems as if he is the dog chasing the car and has finally caught it. Read More ›

Futuristic rendering of a human face. Concept of artificial intelligence. 3D render.

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News
Date
July 11, 2023

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence

Tagged
AI, Artificial Intelligence, COSM 2022, Futurism, Science fiction}

AI 2041: Ten Visions of Our Future

_{What will our world look like in 20 years?} _{News
July 11, 2023

1

Artificial Intelligence}

Former president of Google China, Kai-Fu Lee, imagines our world in 2041 and how it will be shaped by AI. By gazing toward a not-so-distant horizon, Lee offers urgent insights into our collective future — while reminding readers that, ultimately, humankind remains the author of its destiny. This video is taken from COSM 2021 conference. You can find much more similar content at the Center for Intelligence YouTube page.

Summer Storm, Monument Valley, Navajo Nation, Utah, USA

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Gary Varner
Date
July 8, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture

Tagged
Arts and Culture, Fantasy, HBO, Nihilism, Robots, Science fiction, Westworld}

Westworld: Episode 4 Review

_{If nothing matters, then why are we doing this?} _{Gary Varner
July 8, 2023

7

Arts & Culture}

Episode three spent a great deal of time simply building the characters and world but had one good scene that explored some interesting ideas about consciousness. Episode Four has a lot more action and much less depth. It does; however, feed us some nihilistic nonsense along the way, and I couldn’t help but wonder why. In the first scene, we return to a glass room where Bernard is once again talking to Dolores. She expresses concern about her world, and this seems to be the first time Bernard has heard her communicating thoughts that are somewhat independent of her programming. So, he gives her a wooden toy he calls The Maze and tells her that if she can find the Read More ›

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News
Date
July 5, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture

Tagged
Frankenstein, hollywood, Mary Shelley, Movies and TV, Science fiction, transhumanism}

The Modern-Day “Frankenstein” Is Coming

_{"Poor Things," starring Emma Stone, is about a girl brought back to life. Ring a bell?} _{News
July 5, 2023

1

Arts & Culture}

The movie Poor Things, starring Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, and Mark Ruffalo, is the story of an “unorthodox” scientist who brings a girl, Bella Baxter (Stone), back to life. Baxter must learn how to navigate the world given her unwieldy demeanor and the uncoordinated connection between her brain and body. It looks to be a pretty close re-interpretation of Mary Shelley’s classic science fiction novel Frankenstein. Whether it will get even close to investigating Shelley’s key questions and insights remains to be seen, of course. Interestingly, the scientist (Dafoe) has a deformed face that looks like it was stitched together piece by piece, similar to popular renderings of Frankenstein’s monster. You can watch the trailer here:

Colorado river with desert landscape glowing in Utah near moab with moon

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Gary Varner
Date
June 24, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture

Tagged
AI, Arts and Culture, Consciousness, Gary Varner, HBO, Max, Movies and TV, Robert J. Marks, Robots, Science fiction, Westworld}

Westworld: Episode 2 Review

_{The whole point of the show is to explore a theory of consciousness} _{Gary Varner
June 24, 2023

6

Arts & Culture}

In episode one, several robots break down. It appears they are accessing memories thanks to an unexpected update, which causes the robots to glitch and seize up, unable to communicate. The updated robots are recalled and the worst of them are decommissioned. In episode two, Dolores wakes up, hearing Bernard’s voice in the middle of the night. She goes outside, and it’s later revealed that she finds a gun buried in the dirt. After we’ve seen Dolores rise from her bed thanks to Bernard’s call, we meet William. He and his future brother-in-law are visiting the park. This is William’s first time in Westworld, and he isn’t excited to be there. He’s humoring his future relative. Episode two continues in Read More ›

Builders in work clothes install new roofing tools, roofing tools, electric drill and use them on new wooden roofs with metal sheets

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News
Date
June 22, 2023

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence

Tagged
AI, Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness, Discovery Institute, Dystopian, George Gilder, Jay Richards, Machines, Robert J. Marks, Science fiction}

The One Thing Only Humans Can Do

_{What makes human beings unique? Will artificial intelligence take over our jobs?} _{News
June 22, 2023

1

Artificial Intelligence}

What makes human beings unique? Will artificial intelligence take over our jobs? The Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence, which publishes Mind Matters, was launched largely to respond to questions like these. In a panel discussion at the Dallas launch of the Bradley Center, Baylor Professor of Computer Engineering Robert J. Marks offered some thoughts on the evening’s topic, “Will ‘Smart’ Machines Take Over Our Jobs?” This is a great video to watch if you’re new to Mind Matters or are interested in learning more about the unique perspective of the Bradley Center. Marks doesn’t offer doomsday approximations of the future of AI, but neither does he disregard the challenges it poses. According to him, though, there’s one Read More ›

Problem of television addiction. Mixed media

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News
Date
June 19, 2023

Categorized
Technology

Tagged
apple, CEO, Jack Dorsey, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta, metaverse, Science fiction, Twitter, Virtual Reality, Vision Pro, WALL-E}

Jack Dorsey: Just Read Some Science Fiction and You’ll See Where We Are

_{The former Twitter CEO opens up about his thoughts on Apple's new mixed reality headset} _{News
June 19, 2023

3

Technology}

Last week, Apple announced the Vision Pro headset, a virtual reality set that is designed to “blend” physical and digital life into a unitary experience. The headset, from all appearances, looks sleeker and less clunky that Meta’s VR headsets. Users will, for the remarkably low price of $3,499 (that was a joke) will be able to have apps appear in the room in front of them, transforming everyday environments into a “personal theater.” Not everyone is stoked about the announcement, however. Mark Zuckerberg isn’t too happy about it, for obvious reasons. He’s been trying to break ground in the VR headset game for years, now. However, Jack Dorsey, former CEO and co-founder of Twitter, raised his own concerns about the Read More ›

Forest in fog with mist. Fairy spooky looking woods in a misty day. Cold foggy morning in horror forest with trees

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Peter Biles
Date
June 17, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture, Transhumanism

Tagged
AI, C.S. Lewis, ChatGPT, Creativity, Dystopian, internet, J.R.R. Tolkien, mind matters, Oxford, Paul Kingsnorth, Science fiction, Technology, That Hideous Strength}

That Hideous Strength, A.K.A. Transhumanism

_{C.S. Lewis's classic science fiction tale is about the temptation to reject being human} _{Peter Biles
June 17, 2023

7

Arts & Culture, Transhumanism}

C.S. Lewis’s 1946 science fiction novel That Hideous Strength is almost eighty years old now. Written during the throes of World War II, the novel is the culmination of Lewis’s cosmic trilogy, preluded by Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra. There are hosts of other articles attending to the prescience of Lewis’s terrifying novel, and for good reason; That Hideous Strength is a warning against using technology to dehumanize people and ultimately cripple the world into submission. It’s a great book as a novel, but it seems especially appropriate to revisit in lieu of the growing interest in transhumanism and the rapid acceleration of AI development. It feels like much of the talk on AI in recent months involves Read More ›

Dark knight illustration, medieval era wizard, fantasy concept. Generative AI

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Peter Biles
Date
June 11, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

Tagged
Arts and Culture, Astronomy, C.S. Lewis, Fantasy, J.R.R. Tolkien, science, Science fiction, The Lord of the Rings}

J.R.R. Tolkien on Science Fiction

_{The master storyteller was more open to sci-fi and tech than the stereotype lets on} _{Peter Biles
June 11, 2023

5

Arts & Culture, Science Fiction}

In early 2021, literary scholar Holly Ordway published a deep dive into J.R.R. Tolkien’s reading habits. The celebrated author of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit was a linguist and medievalist at Oxford for decades until his death in 1973. Based on his immersion in ancient literature, people often assume that Tolkien despised all things modern – including modern books. Even C.S. Lewis is quoted as saying, “No one ever influenced Tolkien–you might as well try to influence a Bandersnatch.” Today’s conception of Tolkien stereotypically portrays him as a curmudgeon who refused to engage with modernity. Ordway, however, pushes back against such an image and lays out a comprehensive case for Tolkien’s interest in contemporary literature, including the Read More ›

Galactic Space Elements of this image furnished by NASA

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Gary Varner
Date
June 10, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

Tagged
Arts & Culture, Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel Universe, Movies, Outer Space, Sci-Fi Saturday, Science fiction, Star Wars}

The Guardians of the Galaxy 3, Part 3

_{This movie isn't the best in the trilogy, but it should be doing better than it is at the box office} _{Gary Varner
June 10, 2023

9

Arts & Culture, Science Fiction}

Previously, we talked about how Rocket Raccoon was injured during a fight with Adam Warlock, and this event sent the Guardians on a quest to save their friend. They manage to fix Rocket, and along the way, the viewer learns about the raccoon’s past. However, now that Rocket has healed from his injuries, Peter, Gamora, and Groot must save Nebula, Mantis, and Drax from the High Evolutionary, since they snuck onto his ship. The High Evolutionary demands that Peter trade Rocket for the three stowaways and sends Peter his coordinates. Peter hatches a plan with the remaining Guardians and some of his fellow Ravagers from the previous films. Meanwhile, Mantis, Nebula, and Drax discover there are children in cages inside Read More ›